Page 67 of Vital Blindside

I don’t realize I’ve stopped walking until I feel Scarlett tug on my hand before coming to stand in front of me. Her closeness has me wanting to pull myself from my thoughts, but I seem to be locked in them.

An onslaught of emotions crashes into me, threatening to knock me on my ass. It’s not that I haven’t accepted what happened and how it changed my life forever. But it’s different being here, knowing this is the place where everything changed.

In a way, it was on this dance floor where my life really began. What happened turned me into the man I am today, and maybe I’m a bit naive or way too fucking hopeful, but there’s a part of me that wonders if I’ve come full circle. If being here right now with Scarlett is what helps turns me into the man I’ll be tomorrow.

“Adam?” she shouts above the noise.

I swallow the emotion in my throat and bring our linked hands to my chest, holding the back of hers to my pounding heart. There are too many things I want to say to her that I can’t. Not yet and definitely not here.

Instead, I flash her a smile and bring her hand to my lips, kissing it. “Let’s dance.”

She stares at me for a few moments, not convinced, but relents with a mouthed okay.

We walk a bit further into the crowd before I lift our hands in the air and spin her around. She grins, releasing a giddy laugh that burrows itself in my memories.

I stare down at her with an open gaze, letting her feel every single thing I do. Taking her in my arms, I palm her waist and drag my thumbs over the hem of her shirt. It lifts, and our skin touches.

We’re getting closer with each thump of the bass, until our bodies are pressed together. Her eyes flare with desire as we sway to the music, and the proof of how attracted I am to her digs into her lower stomach.

It’s only the second time we’ve touched like this—if the yacht bathroom really counts—but I need it to not be the last. She feels perfect against me, like she was made to fit in my arms.

Her eyes drop to my mouth when I lean forward and rumble a warning “Careful.”

An eyebrow twitches. “Careful?”

I press the rigid outline of my cock against her and hold her still when she tries to swirl her hips. Her breath hitches, forcing me to stare at her parted lips. They look as soft as I remember.

“I haven’t touched a woman like this in a long time, Scarlett. Make sure this is what you want.”

She doesn’t hesitate. “Touch me, Adam.”

I release a breath, slipping my hands beneath her shirt and holding her bare waist. “Not here, in the open like this.”

Suddenly, nerves flash across her features. She stays silent.

“What’s wrong?” I ask.

“Can we go outside?”

Worry has me nodding quickly and pulling her through the crowd and out the front doors. Once we hit a wall of fresh summer air, she relaxes a bit.

I lead us away from the club and to the side of a neighbouring building. We’re still close enough to faintly hear the music but far enough there’s nobody else around.

She stops in front of me, and I slip a hand through her hair, holding the back of her head, forcing her to meet my eyes.

“What’s wrong?”

Her cheeks are pink, and I’m not sure if it’s from the heat in the club or something else.

“It’s so stupid.”

“Nothing that upsets you is stupid to me.”

“It’s just been a . . . long time since I’ve been intimate with anyone. I don’t want to do anything wrong,” she admits, her voice timid.

I blink. “Are you a virgin? Because that’s not something I would judge you—”

“No!” she rushes out. “Not that there’s anything wrong with that. It’s just not . . .”

---